GREEN-fingered gran Dena Murphy worked night and day to turn a fly-tippers’ alley into an oasis of blooms.

But a deteriorating eye problem meant she could barely see the results of her work.

Now, thanks to the skill of Manchester surgeons, Dena can enjoy the transformation in all its glory.

She beamed with joy as she gazed at the sanctuary following an eye operation and said: ‘‘It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful.’’

Dena, who had a lens replaced, added: ‘‘My sight had been failing for a while, so I worked on the garden in little sections. But when I moved sections, I couldn’t see the one I’d just done.

‘‘It’s fantastic to stand in the garden and see the whole finished effect for the first time.’’

Now the little patch of land in New Moston will be forever green thanks to Dena and her friendly army of 60 neighbours. There are even locked gates at each end of the strip to keep it secure and allow children to play in safety.

Dena, who celebrated her 73rd birthday on Sunday, was so fed up with the rundown alley behind homes in Northfield Road that she applied for a grant to create a community garden.

With £10,000 backing, Dena rallied her troops for a year’s hard work — and in the process, united a street of strangers into a band of friends.

Now she has another reward, after her North Atherley Garden Project was named Manchester in Bloom’s best community garden.

‘‘It’s brought everyone together,’’ she said. ‘‘Neighbours who had lived next to each other for years without really knowing one another are now friends. It has given us a real community spirit.’’